“Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
During our downtime in Bangkok before our flight to Manila we went to 2 prisons to visit with Christian Prisoners serving sentences. Thailand prisons are well known for being rough (apparently they are featured in several movies I have missed along the way). The Thai government is very strict, especially on drug charges. We met up with an amazing older couple who have been working in Thailand and with these prisoners for 30 years; leading bible studies, worship, visiting and caring for the families of prisoners
Here are some of my reflections from the day:
Similarities:
Her name is Nila. For her 21st birthday her “friends” took her on a vacation to Thailand. She flew back alone carrying some souvenirs for her friend’s boyfriends back home. In the airport she was arrested with 2 kilos of Heroine in her bag. Later she was sentenced to a life sentence. She is 34 now and anticipates that she still has 15 years to serve…. all for a naive mistake.
I am 23. Only 2 years older than Nila was when she was arrested. I made mistakes. I stilI make mistakes. My friends took me to a bar for my 21st birthday. Why is it that on my 21st birthday the only punishment i received was a hangover and NIla is in jail right now?
His name is Kojo. He left NIgeria to find work and found himself arrested in Thailand. He overflows with excitement talking about home, meeting the nieces and nephews born in the time he’s been gone, and getting back to his Mom’s cooking
We both love Psalm 8. We both struggle with letting God have control over the future. We both play soccer (but aren’t very good). I want to meet my Aunt’s new puppy and Jessle’s boyfriend. I miss my Mom’s cooking.
It’s safe thought to look through the bars and think “that isn’t me.”
But it is me in there. It is you. Our lives just took different paths. Why was I protected during the years I was running the other way from God? What makes the mistakes of a 21 year old in Thailand worse than the mistakes I make every hour? We mess up. My sin is no different than anyone else’s when it comes to God. In or out of jail, in America or on the other side of the world, it doesn’t really matter does it? We’re all separated from God by our choices.
Why is this their story?
A renewed view of Grace:
The prisoners all tell us that they are getting out of Jail December 5th. December 5th is the King’s birthday and the day he can grant Amnesty to prisoners. This can result is shortening sentences and for foreign prisoners it can mean being released from jail and sent back home, or it can mean nothing and lead to grave disappointment It all depends on the King. Our ministry hosts tell us that very few prisoners will be granted amnesty. It is near impossible that any of the drug related charges will be dropped. They are preparing for grief counseling when they visit on December 6th. Still the prisoners cling to that hope.
They are waiting on Grace from the King that may never come.
The Christian prisoners we met are in on the secret…. Grace is already here and it has nothing to do with the man plastered all over Thailand.
You can see it in their wide smiles through the bars and plated glass. You can hear Jesus when they sing Refiners Fire to us as a “thank you” for visiting. You can see the passion when they talk about their children being raised to know Jesus.
They are imprisoned by man but no longer condemned by God.
Why do I still struggle to accept Grace? Why do I so often condemn myself and try to earn what is offered freely to me by a great price to God. I am free! Why don’t I live like that? Through bars I see freedom and joy claimed in full while I only choose to accept pieces into my own life.
A different kind of mission’s field:
It has occurred to me before that God can use prison to remove distractions. Bring in jail basically takes out every excuse I have ever made for why I am not seeking God fully. There are no distractions, there are no comforts, there is no way to do it on your own, and you are in a place that just lends itself to letting God grab your attention.
All I could think talking to the women in this prison however was that God has created missionaries on the other side of the bars. Their mission field looks certainly different than ours but their presence is Hope. Prison is a place full of guilt, remorse and very little hope. This is especially true in prison in a country ruled by Buddhism and the “you reap what you sow”‘ laws of Karma. In their minds there is no hope because they are getting what they deserve. According to what they know, they will pay for this not only in this life but in the lives to come. The missionaries God has placed in prison know differently and are sharing his Hope every day.
I am thankful that God has chosen these men and women as his lights in the darkness. I can’t think of many places more hopeless than a prison, and yet there is hope in each of them. I am thankful for my time at the prisons and thankful for my brothers and sisters living with the joy of the Lord pouring out of them. Thank you Jesus for the gift of grace offered freely to undeserving sinners like me!
